P0121 - Throttle Body / TPS Sensor failure - Remedies?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Mavi, Feb 14, 2017.

  1. Mavi

    Mavi Active Member

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    So I got a P0121 code which basically means the TPS sensor has gone bad, my car starting stalling, but not enough to stop, until at one point the engine shut off, the battery drained and I had to turn off the car and turn it back on after 10 minutes to get home very slowly.

    Is there anyway to just change the TPS sensor with something like this:
    NEW Genuine OEM Toyota Throttle Position Sensor 89452-35020 TPS Japan Made NIB | eBay
    or will I have to pick up a whole used throttle body system and change that out?

    Note: I did clean out the MAF and throttle body regularly with their own respective cleaners.

    Thanks
     
    #1 Mavi, Feb 14, 2017
  2. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    The fount of all Prius Knowledge here -- other than me, of course --

    Patrick Wong says the TPS is not replaceable. You have to replace the whole thing....see this thread -- his post is #4.

    throttle position sensor | PriusChat
     
    #2 cyberpriusII, Feb 14, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2017
  3. Mavi

    Mavi Active Member

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    Perfect, searched around through googles search and couldn't find that thread. Thanks
     
    #3 Mavi, Feb 14, 2017
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    "Does it hurt when you do that?" "Then don't do that!"

    There is no hint that Toyota recommends that
     
    #4 JimboPalmer, Feb 14, 2017
  5. Mavi

    Mavi Active Member

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    Issue fixed by picking up a used throttle body with tps and a gasket for ~$50 from ebay and swapping them out.
     
    #5 Mavi, Feb 19, 2017
    A.J. Tarnas and cyberpriusII like this.
  6. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    Thanks for the UPDATE!!!
     
    #6 cyberpriusII, Feb 19, 2017
  7. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    some folks recommend that to clean the throttle body, DON'T spray the cleaner into the throttle because it will get into the tps and damage it. instead spray a lint free cloth and wipe the crud out from around the throttle blade.
     
    #7 69shovlhed, Feb 19, 2017
    A.J. Tarnas likes this.
  8. Mavi

    Mavi Active Member

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    That's what I usually do. The car's last cleaning was like 15k miles ago and then randomly threw this code after cutting out in the highway. Just it's time to go im guessing.
     
    #8 Mavi, Feb 19, 2017
  9. Steven Parizeau

    Steven Parizeau New Member

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    Thanks for the update! I’m having this issue right now (9-10-2021).
    What was the part number of the replacement unit that you got?
    that link you posted brought me to Walmart search for “throttle body” just not sure which one you were referring to.
    How long did the replacement take?
    Thanks for the help so far!
     
    #9 Steven Parizeau, Sep 10, 2021
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